The World Says Goodbye to Digital Anvil (December 5, 2005)

[Bandit LOAF]

Digital Anvil's closure is a case study in the standard internet formula for gaming news. The secret equation is as follows: reworded press release + funny title = gold! We have here exactly what venture capitalists pay the Gamespots and the IGNs of this world millions of dollars for: eleven articles, all identical in content but featuring slightly different words and, here's the kicker, a variety of unique titles -- most of which are attempts to make a pun from Digital Anvil's name.

GameStop: Digital Anvil Melted Down
IGN: Hammer Falls on Digital Anvil
Joystiq: MS Brings Hammer Down On Digital Anvil
GameDaily: Microsoft Drops the Hammer on Digital Anvil
Voodoo Extreme: RIP Digital Anvil
XBox Circle: Digital Anvil Is No More
Pro-G: Digital Anvil Staff Redeployed
Playfuls: Microsoft Kills Digital Anvil
CVG: Microsoft Drops Digital Anvil
Gamasutra: Microsoft Confirms Closure Of Digital Anvil
1Up: Digital Anvil Shuts Down

What happens when you don't follow the script? Ferrago's article, Digital Anvil Disbanded, embellishes the press release by featuring such exciting non-facts as relocating Microsoft's headquarters to Washington DC, leaving Chris Roberts' in charge of overseeing the company to this day and crediting DA with having published "Loose Cannons."

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Original update published on December 5, 2005

 

[Karthik@KANE]

Whatever the "hey" happened to Loose Cannon? Where's Tony Zurovec?